Cinderellie

Thanks, mking. What were your highlights and lowlights of the cruise? Was Tim Kaminski the comedian there?

We have a family of 10 sailing the Gem in less than 3 weeks. Knowing their cell phones won't be active most of the time, (college students - no Internet budget) and we will NOT have walkie talkies, what advice do you have for keeping in touch with each other? Any tips that helped your group stay together? Special meetings spots?

We appreciate any and all advice.

Our family sails on the Gem next month... and we love soft serve ice cream.

Do they have it there? Where? Manned or unmanned? Hours? Creamy or icy? Ice cream or yogurt?

Thanks for whatever you can tell me.

Ahhhhh... thank you, Hawkeyetlse. I did not realize the 3rd and 4th person - who were going free did not get the perks. They would be full price. That changes EVERYTHING! 4 of them will have to pay full price for the beverage package AND the tips... $94 per day X 7. Not good for college student budgets.

We now have to pay for the 3rd and 4th person's gratuities equaling $189 per cabin or $478. Back to drinks on their own!!!

I appreciate your feedback.

My family of 10 are going on the Gem in May to the Bahamas. Our 8 twenty-something kids and girlfriends/boyfriends (over 21) are in two of the cabins - 4 and 4. The perks we chose for them was the 3rd and 4th person free... and tips paid for, so they wouldn't have to spend a dime for the cruise. However, after a long discussion, and they are planning to drink (and it's expensive on college student, new grad budgets,) they asked if they could switch to the Ultimate Beverage Package instead.

We told them we would check, but also that they would then be responsible for their service tips, PLUS the tips for the drink package as well - about $200 per person. After weighing the options, at $30 a day, they would all at least have 4 drinks per day, which would more than cover the expense.

Before I call my NCL rep after the weekend (we did NOT use a travel agent), can anyone shed any light on their experience if you switched perks AFTER the final payment was made. Was it easy?

Thanks for whatever you can share with us.

We are a group of 10 on the Norwegian Gem docking in Port Canaveral in May at 1PM. We are NOT doing a ship's excursion but are searching for other options for fun things for our 8 20-something kids and dates.

Not having docked in Port Canaveral before, can you disembark right away once the ship docks? Or do you have to wait until the ship excursion guests get off first? Has anyone been on this itinerary and wanted to get off quickly, but not on a ship's tour?

When do you think it is likely we will be able to disembark?

Advice and insights, please.

SteerageJoe, thanks for your wonderful guidance. Great advice I will be sharing to our group.

We have a family of 10 going on the Gem in May. Our only rule is that we all eat together for dinner. No specialty dining... in the Main Dining Room only.

We went online and called NCL to get a 6:30 reservation for 6 of the nights, but it only gives us choices of 5:30 or 8:30 PM. At that it says they may not be able to seat us all together.

Has anyone had any experience getting a later time with a big group? Did you try to arrange it at the Dining Reservations Desk or with the Maitre'd? Successful?

Thanks for whatever you can share.

Bump

Hello. I collect unique silver pieces and marcasite. NOT GOLD.

Any good stores which specialize in unique sterling silver pieces or marcasite? Necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets? (I especially love Judith Jack-look pieces and Brighton.)

Will be there for one day on the Norwegian Gem in May.

Thanks!

Why do people feel like they have to have alcohol to have a good time? I don't get it.

We did not want to promote the all inclusive drinking. If they want to drink, it is on their dime. We gave them the choice -- and they are choosing NOT to invest $92 a day (drink package plus 18% gratuities) themselves for it.

Our goal was to provide them a 100% paid - they owe nothing - cruise experience so we paid for their passage and service tips for our kids and their dates.

Since 3 of them are "girlfriends/boyfriend" we did not want to promote the drinking binge increased probability that comes with an unlimited drink package.

Our choice. Our conscience.

I was looking at some recent posts some of you were kind to share of menus for the main dining rooms on the Gem for our upcoming sailing in May. Some of our group has special dietary needs.

In the upper right corner were several high end entrees... Lobster, Surf & Turf and others - at a premium.

Do they not offer a lobster night, or a filet mignon night anymore on a 7 day run without a premium?

Other cruise lines still do.

Recent NCL cruisers in-the-know... what can you tell me?

Thanks.

Thanks, Turning40. Great ideas!. Will bring them up with our kids. You sound like my kind of person!

Here's that link you asked for ... Port Canaveral suggestions. It's awesome!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showp...37&postcount=5

Thanks!

Hello. Our family of 10 will be cruising on the Gem at the end of May going to Cape Canaveral and Nassau. Parents with 8 collage age and + kids in early 20's. 6 have never cruised before.

Our only firm activity as a group will be dining together for dinner.

Most nights we want to be seated in the Grand Pacific or Magenta Dining Rooms. NO specialty restaurants.

How do we arrange this - knowing we have a big table? Should we arrange this with the maitre'd or dining captain?

We love having the same servers if possible... love the personalized service, but if not possible, OK. We could do same time except the late day back from excursions.

What do you suggest for us? Any guidance is appreciated. We usually only go as a couple... first time with the entire brood.

Thanks!

Thanks for the jokes. We know they are all adults. We know they will be drinking. On their dime.

Other than drinking... ideas, please?

Hello. Family of 10 going on a May voyage out of NY for 7 days to Port Canaveral and Nassau on the Gem.

8 of the 10 are college age kids to low twenties. They have asked me what is there to do on the ship that would appeal to them. As a mom in her 50's, my opinion is not always the right one.

Can anyone elaborate for me? What events, activities, things-to-do are there on the ship that would appeal to them. They are all over 21... and NOT on the drink package, if you know what I mean.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Our family of 10 is coming to Nassau in May for just one day from 8AM-6PM on the Norwegian Gem. We gave the kids the cruise - excursions are on them. They are all "poor" college students on a budget. They want to do something - NO CITY OR HISTORICAL TOURS - FUN THINGS - while in Nassau one day. They are the full range of body types - from daredevil athletes to very chubby ones, so things like zip lining are not an option for all.

No to Atlantis. No to paid beach resorts. But the beach is a possibility. Maybe snorkeling. Who knows what they'll choose!

Has someone posted a comprehensive list of non-ship tour related things-to-do (some that are reasonably priced,) as I saw for Port Canaveral?

6 of them have never been on a cruise, nor to the Bahamas before.

Our family will be meeting next month and the kids will be deciding together what they want to do.

Can you give us advice? Or share a link to a post?

Thank you!

We are a family of 10 going on a cruise from the NY Manhattan Cruise Terminal, and have to get all 10 of us from Cherry Hill/Mount Laurel to NY economically in May on a Saturday, then return home the following week.

We found a bus that goes from the Greyhound terminal in Mount Laurel. Nothing on the website explains the parking policy. I have tried calling 10 times. I get their national call center with people who barely speak English and have no clue.

Does anyone know if there free parking there? Or paid? If paid, how much per day/week? We will have 3 carloads of people. Or we'll have to get rides to drop us off.

Thanks.

Family of 10 going on the Norwegian Gem in May to Port Canaveral for the day arriving at 1PM. Kennedy Space Center is only open until 6PM.

Is it worth it for just 4-1/2 hours? None of us are die-hard space fans. We just thought it might be a fun thing to do with 2 parents in their 50's with 8 adult kids, age 21 to 27. We plan on taking Ubers there.

If we go, what are the must sees we can do in the afternoon from 1:30 to 6PM?

Thanks for sharing your experience.

Hello. Our family of 10 adults will be embarking on the Norwegian Gem in May on a Saturday to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal on 711 12th Avenue.

We are looking for advice on the most convenient/easy/economical way to get there as a family group. NO TRAINS OR BUSES. We want it as easy as possible without spending an arm or a leg.

Couple in our 50's with 8 20-somethings are beginning in 2 places:

- Half from Cherry Hill, NJ

- The other half from Levittown, Bucks County PA.

Our first instinct was to hire a van or limousine shuttle to pick us up one group after another.

Another idea was to rent a large van one-way coming and going.

Note...need to tote all that luggage too! Then we have to get home again.

If you've ever planned or done something like this before, we would sure be grateful for the advice. All suggestions and tips on traveling this way are welcome, since it's our first big family trip.

Thanks!

Hello. My family of 10 will be going in May from near Philly to NY for a Norwegian Gem cruise on a Saturday. They are aching to stop at a fantastic New York deli for a sandwich before we board the ship. We are coming in a private van service so we can stop somewhere but want it to be close to the ship at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal.

Can you recommend any scrumptious deli nearby there?

Thanks!

Hello. Our family of 10 adults will be embarking on the Norwegian Gem in May on a Saturday to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal. We will need a van or limousine shuttle to start in Cherry Hill, then pick up the rest of the family in Levittown, PA Bucks County, then off to NY.

Can anyone recommend a shuttle or limousine service for us that's economical? A van is just fine. Ladies with luggage!

All suggestions and tips on traveling this way are welcome, since it's our first big family trip.

Thanks!

Wow... 20 days! 14 would be stretching it. We still both work! We will have to find another solution. Thanks for your suggestions, though!

My husband and I want to do a cruise and land tour out of Vancouver (actually, we will have free round trip tickets to Seattle, then take the train to Vancouver.)

We would like to do a cruise that goes through Glacier Bay, and a land tour that sees wildlife and beautiful views (not so much history buffs) in June 2018. Only a balcony will do.

I see that Princess, NCL and Holland America have cruises that go into Glacier Bay.

Is there an itinerary that will give us Glacier Bay and then a great land tour experience, where we would end up back in Vancouver?

All advice is welcome.